Spitball

Pronunciation: /ˈspɪtˌbɔl/

Definitions of spitball

noun a small ball of chewed paper moistened with saliva and thrown as a missile

Example Sentences

A1 The student was caught throwing a spitball in class.

A2 The teacher reprimanded the student for making a spitball during the lesson.

B1 The boys were having a spitball fight in the back of the classroom.

B2 The principal warned the students about the consequences of shooting spitballs in school.

C1 The teacher confiscated the straw used to make the spitball and gave detention to the student.

C2 The school implemented a zero-tolerance policy for students caught making spitballs.

Examples of spitball in a Sentence

formal The student was reprimanded for shooting a spitball in class.

informal I can't believe he actually shot a spitball at the teacher!

slang He's always causing trouble, like shooting spitballs in class.

figurative Her words felt like a spitball to his ego, leaving a sting that lingered.

Grammatical Forms of spitball

• past tense: spitballed
• plural: spitballs
• comparative: more spitball
• superlative: most spitball
• present tense: spitballs
• future tense: will spitball
• perfect tense: have spitballed
• continuous tense: is spitballing
• singular: spitball
• positive degree: spitball
• infinitive: to spitball
• gerund: spitballing
• participle: spitballing

Origin and Evolution of spitball

First Known Use: 1884 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The term 'spitball' originated in baseball slang to refer to a pitch where the pitcher would moisten the ball with saliva to make it harder to hit.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'spitball' has come to be used more broadly to describe any small ball of paper or other material moistened with saliva and thrown as a projectile.